Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-12-16
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
OLYMPIA. FRIDAY EVENING. DEC. 16, 1857.
Railroad Legislation.

Railroad Legislation.
If there ever has been any indica-
ton at previous sessions OF the Legls-
lative Assembly to unduly favor rail
road corporations, that charge cannot
be made against the present law
makers. In fact, the disposition seems /
to be to 90 to extreme lengths in the
passage OF laws to meet every possible |
emergency, and cover all forms OF real
or fancied oppression Of the people from
this source. The first bills introduced !
in Council and House We're for the re-
peal OF the gross earnings law, and
these have been supplemented by
others to regulate fares and rates of
transportation, fixing the liability of
railroad companies for loss OF life or
property, and for appointing com
mission to supervise railroad matters
for the Territory. One of these has
already passed the Council. 1t fixes
the limit for passage at four cents per-
mile, but as this rate is about the
maxium charge on the Northern Pa
cific and over the Oregon Railway
companies lines, its effect will not be
as marked upon their routes of travel
as on the smaller roads, which the
Honorable Councilman, in their de-
bate upon Mr.. Conveys amendment to
except roads under fifty miles in
length, appeared quite willing to ex-
empt from the operations of the act,
had they not been debarred by the re-
striction act of Congress.
The effect ON our local road, If the
bill becomes law, will be to reduce
the rate more than fifty per cent, and
it will doubtless change the figures on
various other Territorial roads in like
proportion. In some instances re-
duction may be needed, and the COM
panies will sustain little if any loss
from the increase of travel; but it is
safe to say that no effort would have
been made to regulate the business of
roads owned and in some instances
built by the people, had not Congress
interposed an act which makes it nee
cssary for the Legislature to Cypress
local enterprise to reach the opera
tions of larger corporations. 1t
will he similar in its workings to the
net which catches the little fish with
the large ones, and lands them just as
high and as dry as the game sought.
Mr.. Sharpstein's bill, to which refer
ence is had, makes higher charge than
four cents per mile q misdemeanor
punishable by fine of not less than
one hundred nor more than one thous.
and dollars, to be recovered in a civil
action in the name of the Territory
and makes it the duty of the several
Prosecuting Attorneys to institute ac-
tions and prosecute all railroad COM
panies violating any of the provisions
of the act. 1t likewise gives the per
son over-cifarged the privilege of col
lecting FROM the company three times
the amount "charged, collected, de
manded, or received" together with al
damages, costs of action and attor
ney's fee.
1t is to be hoped that out of the con
fusion that must necessarily result
from the consideration of SO many
propositions affecting such vital in
terests, that an act may be framed
that will be just to the companies
while affording ample safeguards
against that abuse of power which
wealth affords. 1t should be borne in
mind that to reconcile the interests o.
capital and labor, is a matter which is
absorbing the attention of our best
statesmen; that their efforts, devoid o.
passion or prejudice, are directed
toward procuring a fair and equitable
adjustment of all the interests in
volved. The moneyed corporation
should possess no more nor less rights
than the individual, under similar cir.
cumstances and conditions, and to sn-
act law that will be fair in all its pro-
visions, and stand the test of Judicial
Interpretation, will require the deepest
thought and best judgment of our law
makers.